Impending Cyclone Nears Leeward Islands

A tropical disturbance between Cape Verde Islands and Lesser Antilles has an 80% chance of becoming a cyclone within 48 hours. The National Hurricane Center issued a storm watch for the Leeward Islands. The disturbance may affect the Greater Antilles and Virgin Islands by midweek.

A tropical disturbance located midway between the Cape Verde Islands and the Lesser Antilles has an 80% chance of becoming a cyclone in the next 48 hours, the U.S. National Hurricane Center reported on Sunday.

On Sunday, the NHC issued a tropical storm watch for the Leeward Islands, indicating that the disturbance is expected to cross over parts of the Leeward Islands by Tuesday. Positioned approximately 950 miles east-southeast of Antigua, the potential tropical cyclone has maximum sustained winds of 30 mph and is expected to escalate to tropical storm status by late Monday, the National Hurricane Center forecasts.

According to the Miami-based forecaster, the system could reach parts of the Greater Antilles by midweek. The disturbance is expected to approach the U.S. and British Virgin Islands on Tuesday night, as per the NHC.

(With inputs from agencies.)